The Parade: A Firsthand Account

When I got there I was dressed from head to toe in sparkly sequins and itchy tights, and I held my baton like a pro. I lined up with others in my squad and we began marching through the streets while the marching band played in front of us. I saw the crowds of people waving and smiling. At first, their happy faces made it seem less cold, but by the second mile, the happy faces did not soothe the blisters on my feet. I threw my twirling baton into the air, and this time I did not catch it. In fact, when I turned to retrieve it, I tripped on the girl behind me and caused quite a situation. I was so embarrassed that I contemplated never showing my face again.

The Parade: A Secondhand Account

I read about the Thanksgiving parade in our school newspaper today. It was held downtown last Saturday morning to honor the American holiday that occurs every year on the third Thursday in November. There was a marching band, floats from all of the local businesses, a step team, a ballet studio, and baton twirlers. The temperature outside was forty-five degrees, but the sun was shining brightly and helped warm over 600 people who came out to see the parade. All in all, the parade was a huge success, and the city plans to hold it again next year.

How is the focus of the firsthand account different from the secondhand account?